Charlotte's Web

Ayana Strutz

The Arden Children Theatre’s production of Charlotte’s Web on its F. Otto Haas mainstage is a smashing success and with its three performances daily has been extended to February 3, 2019. The set is a beautiful two-story barn with sliding doors, a dirt-and-straw floor fit for a pig and rafters fit for a spider. With a barnyard full of animals, many members of this talented ensemble cast play dual roles, in the barnyard and at the County Fair. Philadelphia theatre-goers will be thrilled to see some of their favorite actors in this ensemble; Campbell O’Hare, Alex Bechtel, Alex Keiper, JoVito Ramirez, Brian Anthony Wilson, Emile Krause and J. Hernandez. There is delightful audience participation with the younger audience members as volunteers are asked to walk with the goose and later help with a live “horse race”. As charming as the barnyard animals are, it is Charlotte (Ayana Strutz) who steals the show. She makes an absolutely breathtaking entrance onto the stage as she slides upside down wrapped in silks from the top of the barn to the barn’s floor. Mimicking a spider, with her stomach up and her arms and legs stretched behind her, she scuttles over to Wilber the pig (Adam Howard) to tell him she will be his friend. Trained in a circus college, Ayana flips across the stage and climbs up and down the barn’s rafters with ease. The children in the audience were spellbound and I must admit; I was a bit awed myself. Charlotte’s Web is awesome. From Templeton (J.Hernandez) the rat, to the goose and gander who repeat repeat repeat everything, to Homer Zuckerman (Brian Anthony Wilson) proud owner of some pig, this production has something for everyone no matter the age. For more information or tickets, visit ardentheatre.org.